Cartoon-based Advertising news
Midfielders star in comic book-style video viral
Zinedine Zidane has made no secret of his admiration for Steven Gerrard (”Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be”), so it is fitting that an animated likeness of the Frenchman goes off in search of the Liverpool captain in a new advertising campaign for a stripey German sportswear company.
We really like this clip but have noticed one obvious error - shouldn’t the backpack on young Stevie G’s back have an Everton crest on it?
[101GG]
Tags: Adidas, Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, Viral, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: September 30th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Trick Shot
Zizou turns his immeasurable talent to the world of billiards
While we are certain that Zinedine Zidane excels at any sport he attempts, the pool skills shown above may not actually represent the Frenchman’s talent on the table.
After a little bit of research, we discovered that the video is part of a new campaign for Grand Opticals, the company who provide Zizou’s natty headbutt-proof glasses.
Tags: Advert, Glasses, Grand Opticals, Pool, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: September 3rd, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
La Liga Update
Tricky winger is “anxious and under pressure”, say Spanish press

The new La Liga season hasn’t even started yet, but the Spanish press are already trying to knock Cristiano Ronaldo from his lofty pedestal.
Marca have today run the headline ‘Cristiano cannot find his place’. They claim he is suffering from ‘Zidane syndrome’, as he is struggling to fit in with his new team. They assert that The Portuguese is suffering from anxiety and pressure, and that his colleagues believe he is crestfallen.
Despite having no evidence to back it up, the daily sport paper also says that Ronaldo has admitted to his ‘close circle’ that he has not yet assimilated into Manuel Pellegrini’s side, and that he would like to ‘be closer to the area’.
This all sounds suspiciously like a fabrication for a slow news day, but it is probably fair to say that C-Ron has failed to shine in any of Madrid’s gazillion pre-season friendlies.
Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga, Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: August 19th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Transfer Talk
French prankster intends to join the Florentino Perez revolution

A few weeks ago, Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was adamant that Franck Ribery would not leave the Bundesliga club this summer.
The handsome midfielder was present at Bayern’s first day of training yesterday, but French daily sport paper L’Equipe believe he used the opportunity to drop a bombshell on new manager Louis van Gaal. Apparently, Ribery has expressed an interest in joining his national team-mate Karim Benzema at Real Madrid:
[Translated from French]
Ribery told L’equipe of his desire to move elsewhere: “It’s decided, I want to leave.”
When asked whether he intended to move to Real Madrid, or whether it was another club he wanted to go to, he spontaneously replied: “Yes, it will be Real or nothing.”
Die Roten’s general manager Uli Hoeness was not surprised by Ribery’s attitude, reasoning that “Life is not always a fairytale.” The former German striker, however, made it clear that the club will do everything in their power

Tags: Bayern Munich, Florentino Perez, Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Louis van Gaal, Real Madrid, Uli Hoeness, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: July 2nd, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
TRANSFER TALK
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Karim Benzema to Manchester United
Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has conceded that while they don’t plan to sell Benzema this summer, they may receive an offer that is too good to turn down. Aulas explained his predicament with this rather wonderful analogy: “There is a tsunami called Real Madrid which provokes reactions at Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.”
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his admiration for the French striker before - comparing him to Zinedine Zidane - but he may delay a move until Carlos Tevez makes a decision on his future.
Jose Bosingwa to Bayern Munich
It looks like Chelsea are getting rid of one right-back who is good going forward but occasionally vulnerable defensively for another. Portsmouth have

Tags: Carlos Tevez, Chelsea, Franck Ribery, gianfranco zola, Glen Johnson, Inter Milan, Jean-Michel Aulas, Jose Bosingwa, Jose Mourinho, Karim Benzema, Luis Jimenez, Lyon, Manchester City, Manchester United, Mancini, Mario Balotelli, Portsmouth, Real Madrid, Steve Clarke, West Ham, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: June 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn
Transfer Talk
Where the hell do they keep getting all this money from?

Hey, remember yesterday morning when we reported the comments of Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. You know, the comments that have appeared in most English papers this morning, almost 24 hours later? Well, he said that Franck Ribery will not be leaving the club this summer, and that it is not a question of money.
This attitude may change, however, when Florentino Perez offers to make him the third most expensive player in the world. According to AS, Real Madrid have ‘reserved’ €55m for the Frenchman - a bid far greater than the £30m reportedly being offered by Chelsea, and

Tags: Bayern Munich, Florentino Perez, Franck Ribery, Jorge Valdano, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Real Madrid, Transfer news, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: June 17th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Link Dump
Also appearing on a computer near you…
South Africa’s Bernard Parker enjoys the best miss of his career at the Confederations Cup
[Off The Post]
Internazionale are confident of landing Deco and Ricardo Carvalho
[The Independent]
Cheryl Cole looking good on holiday
[News of the World]
Michael Owen over-estimates himself in a glossy brochure designed for prospective employers
[Pies]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: yours for a mere €90m
[Sport.co.uk]
Holiday buddies: Djibril Cissé and Samir Nasri in Miami
[Kickette]
Cristiano Ronaldo takes a weight off of Zinedine Zidane’s shoulders
[Goal.com]
Wolves preapre for the Premier League by signing Serbian defensive midfielder Nenad Milijas
[ITV]
Tags: Bernard Parker, Chelsea, Cheryl Cole, Confederations Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco, Djibril Cisse, Inter Milan, Michael Owen, Nenad Milijas, Ricardo Carvalho, Samir Nasri, Transfer news, Wolves, Zinedine Zidane, Zlatan Ibrahimović
Posted: June 15th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Link Dump
Also appearing on a computer near you…
America’s World Cup campaign has been backed by the guy from Kindergarten Cop
[Off the Post]
Why the Kazakhstan/ England game is a big deal for our Central Asian friends
[BBC]
Stoke chase Richard Dunne
[Goal.com]
What the 2008/09 Premier League Fair Play table tells us
[Pies]
Has Liverpool target David Silva slipped through their fingers?
[Daily Mail]
“Kaka has already signed for Real,” says Zinedine Zidane.
[Sky Sports]
Stevie G’s ex Jennifer Ellison makes a good case in the defence of hot Scouse ladies
[The Sun]
Tags: Arnold Schwartzenegger, David Silva, England, Jennifer Ellison, Kaka, Kazakhstan, Liverpool, richard dunne, Stoke, Transfer news, WAG, World Cup, Zinedine Zidane
Posted: June 5th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey